Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Growing clematis in trees

sb3-Kpx6edSsb3-Kpx6edS Posts: 21
in Problem solving
I've planted shade-tolerant clematis in young trees. Do I prune the clematis, or let it grow with the tree? Thanks for any advice on this - I can't find anything online
«1

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It depends on the clematis.  What have you planted?
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • sb3-Kpx6edSsb3-Kpx6edS Posts: 21
    Clematis Alpina, Montana and Nelly Moser
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    And the trees?
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • sb3-Kpx6edSsb3-Kpx6edS Posts: 21
    Magnolia and Amelanchier
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    OK.  Magnolias are quite slow growing trees so may well be swamped by a montana which is a rampant and vigorous form of clematis.  You may need to control the montana's growth while the magnolia gets settled in.  Montanas are pruned in late spring after flowering finishes if they need to be kept in bounds or have their vigour renewed as they get older.

    Alpinas are also pruned after their spring flowering but are much less vigorous, only getting to between 2 and 4 metres depending on which one it is.

    Nelly Moser is a group 2 so gets a light prune after the first flush of flowers in late spring/early summer.  That won't be easy once she gets up a tree so you could treat her as a group " and prune hard in march and then give her a good feed.  As she matures she'll easily grow to between 2 and 4 metres each season and then have one longer flush of flowers over summer. 

    All clematis are hungry plants so a regular mulch in autumn and a feed in spring will help them compete with the tree roots sucking up nutrients.  Keep them well watered as they establish themselves and thru any hot and dry periods in future years;

     
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • sb3-Kpx6edSsb3-Kpx6edS Posts: 21
    Many thanks for this useful advice!
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited July 2022
    Please do let us know how you get on and take photos of progress.

    Sorry, I see my shift button demon is at play again.  Group " should read group 3.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Shauna2021Shauna2021 Posts: 53
    I dont want to hijack your thread, but does  anyone have photos of where theyve done this well? I've got a giant upright box I don't particularly like (but cannot easily remove)  and would love to cover with a clematis, as well as some apple trees that are in reasonably shady spot that I wpuld like to grow one up, so I am looking for ideas. 
  • sb3-Kpx6edSsb3-Kpx6edS Posts: 21
    Obelixx, I got the " as it's above my 3 too.  I'll certainly keep you posted on progress and take photos if I can figure the technology out (I'm an IT dinosaur)! Shauna, growing clematis in trees was shown in Gardeners' World not that long ago, in a viewer's garden, so maybe you can track that episode?  I'd also be interested to see how anyone has approached growing clematis up an established tree (like Shauna, I have apple trees that are candidates for this).
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited July 2022
    I have found this - https://www.raymondevisonclematis.com/pages/trees-walls 

    Presumably for an evergreen tree such as box you plant the clematis outside the canopy and where it will not be in a rain shadow then guide the new stems up the evergreen.  Need to make sure your clematis is a clinger and not something like Arabella which doesn't self cling.  The RHS suggests flammula or tangutika group clematis - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/clematis/grow-into-trees for evergreens.

    This website is a mine of info about clematis varieties, colours, habits, pruning groups etc https://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemlistsearch.cfm and then you can find the one(s) you want from a reputable nursery such as Hawthornes, Taylors, Thorcroft...
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
Sign In or Register to comment.